Apple intros iOS 4.1 with Game Center and better photos

At its Fall media event Wednesday, Apple introduced the 4.1 version of its iOS platform and this has a bunch of new features including improved gaming and photos.

Users with the iPhone 3G will be happy to know that the iOS 4.1 will fix many of the bugs which made the device nearly unusable with the 4.0 version of the software. I remember I threw that 4.0 software on my iPod touch and found it to be a slow, buggy experience.

Gamers will be happy to know that the Game Center is finally coming. This is essentially a social network for iOS games and it will include leader boards and matchmaking capabilities.

The Game Center should bolster the Apple iPhone as a gaming platform but the competition is trying to catch up. Google has purchased social gaming company to bolster its Android gaming and we could see a massive increase if Sony does introduce the much-rumored PlayStation Phone.

The iOS 4.1 software should also please shutterbugs, as the latest version now includes a feature called High Definition Range. This HDR should make that Apple iPhone even better, as Apple CEO Steve Jobs showed off photos which had better light capture and crisper contrast.

The 4.1 iOS software will be available next week for the iPhone and iPod touch and it will be a free download from iTunes.

Apple also showed off iOS 4.2 will be coming later and it brings “everything” to the iPad including multitasking, wireless printing and streaming videos and audio. This free update will be coming in November for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch.

The competition is not resting on its laurels though, as Google is preparing a massive update of its Android OS. The Gingerbread update should include improved user interfaces, loads of new features and it may even be optimized for tablets.